Means for meter dial marking



June 9, 1931. T. DE KONING 1,809,784

I MEANS FOR METER DIAL MARKING- Filed May 15, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 J1me 3 'r. DE KONINGV 9,

MEANS FOR METER DIAL MARKING Filed May 15, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 9, 1931. DE KONING- 1.809384 MEANS FOR METER DIAL MARKING Filed May l5, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented June 9, 1931 UNITED'VVVSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

1 11 DE KON'ING, on, isnooxnxm'lvnw-Yonx MEANS ironv METER. DIAL Maxine Application filed May 15,

' vide means for and method of marking meter dials which is suitable for inexpensive quantity production methods ofmanufacture, involving a minimum expenditure of time .and ofmoney I l/Vith theseand other objects and applications in mind, my invention further consists in the detailsof construction and'operation and arrangement, hereinafter described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein p j I Fig.1 is a top plan view of the'dial-markr: ingdeviceand calibration plate;

I Fig. Qis an end elevational vi-ewillustrating the dial marking device, the calibration plate, the dial to be calibrated and the sup-- porting plate; 7 I

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View taken onthe line IIIIII of Fig. 1; Fig.4 is an enlarged, detail, top plan View of the dial-marking device and instrument to be tested, showing the instrument needle positioneddn alignment with one. of the Fig. 8 is an enlarged,detail, top plan view of a modified form of dial-marking device;

-- Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, butlshowing a still furthermodification; s c

Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view taken onthe line.X.X of Fig. 9; and

. Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view, taken on. the line XIXI of Fig. 9.

1925. 3 Serial No. 30,521.

Referring to Figs. '1 to 7 inclusive, of the drawings, a fan-like dial-marking device 1 comprises an elongated expansible and. contractable structure 2, the opposite ends of which are mounted on angularly disposed supporting members andd, the inner ends of which are secured to vertical sides 5 and 6, respectively, ofia mounting member 7. The latter may comprise a horizontal base section 8'which is provided with a vertically extending shaft 9 constituting a common pivotal support for a plurality of blades 11 to be presently described.

c A vertical movement of the strips 11 may be prevented by means of a clamping plate 12, the opposite edges of which are bent downwardly to form the supporting sides 5 and 6, the .end of the latter being. riveted to the horizontal base section 8. The ends of the base section'8 areprovided with apertures 13and1 l adapted to receive centering pins 15 and 16, respectively,of,a base plate 17, hereafter referred to. I The apertures 13 and Hare-"also adapted-to register with threaded holes; (not shown) in a meter. 18 (Fig. 4) to be tested, said threaded holes being. designed to receive. the clamping scr-ews,whereby the dial-marking device maybe detachably secured in position.

Referring more particularly to the construction'of the elongated expansible structure 2, apluralityof transversely extending members 19 are interconnected by strips of cloth or other flexible material 21 so as to form a plaiited structure offan-like construction. For purposes of illustration, members one, six, eleven, sixteen, twenty-one, twenty-' six, thirty-one and thirty-six will be herein-' after referred to as major blades 22, while the four members intermediate successive major blades 22, '22 will be referred to as minor blades 23. 1 i

The construction'of theminor blades 23 is particularly ilustrated in the detached perspective view of Fig. 5, wherein a U- shaped member 2 1 is provided with a base portion 25, side wall portions 26 and 27 and turned back edge porti0ns 28 and 29, respectively. Anouter end 31 of each minor'blade 23 may be slidably supported by a curved rod edge 32 which passes through an aperture 33 therein. The ends of the curved member 32 are secured to the end supporting members 3 and 4. Inwardly of the perforation is positioned a second perforation 34 for the reception of a resilient strip 35, the opposite ends of which are also extended to the end supporting members 3 and 4. The aperture 34 may be connected to the aperture 33 by a slot 36 in order to facilitate the insertion of the resilient element 35 into'said aperture 34.

A similar aperture 37 is formed on an inner end 38 of each minor blade 23 for the reception of a resilient element 39, the opposite ends of which are also secured to the end members 3 and 4. A slot 41 serves to facilitate the insertion and removal of the resilient element 39 from the aperture 37. A portion 42 of the base portion 25 of the minor blade 23 is removed to provide an opening 43, for reasons as will appear more fully hereinafter.

The minor blade 23 may be reinforced by stri s 44 and 45, which are positioned interm iate the side walls 26 and 27 of the member 24 on opposite sides of the opening 43. The strips 44 and 45 are provided with openings corresponding to the openings just referred to for the U-shaped member 24. The folded strips 21 interconnecting successive minor blades 23 have their edge portions 46, 46 respectively clamped by the folded back ortions 28 and 29 of successive minor blades 23. As illustrated in Fig. 6, the fabric may be further secured in position by rivets 47.

The major blades 22 (Fig. 4) comprise side strips 48 and 49 which are spaced by intermediate strips'51 and 52. The adjacent ends of the strips 51 and 52 are spaced to form an opening 53 which is somewhat larger than the opening 43 in the minor blades 23. The edges of the strips of cloth 21 are secured to the side strips 48 and 49 by folded back edge portions and (Fig. 6) and by rivets 56, as in the case of the minor blades 23. The intermediate strip 51 constitutes one end of the blade 11 which is pivotally mounted on the pin 9, thereby afl'ording a support for the inner edge of the e-Xpansible structure 2. The remaining intermediate strip 52 is slidubly mounted on the curved rod 32 and it is provided with a projecting portion 57 which extends through a slot 58 in acurved supporting strip 59, the opposite ends of which are respectively mounted, on the supporting members 3 and 4. An inner surface 61 of the supporting strip 59 is serrated, as shown in Fig. 4.

An adjusting tip 62 is provided with a cylindrical portion 63 which embraces the pro- 'ectin portion 57 and it terminates in an enlarge head ortion 64, an inner surface 65 of which is ormed complementarily to the surface 61 of the supporting strip 59. A

spring 66 extends between the strip 52 and the enlarged head portion 64, whereby the surfaces 61 and 65 may be resiliently retained in engagement. Vhen the adjusting tip 62 is depressed to disengage the surfaces 61 and 65, the major blade 22 directly connected thereto may be moved about the pivot pin 9 as a center. For purposes of illustration, as shown only eight major blades are associated with the adjusted tips 62, but of course, any desired number may be employed depending upon the desired number of major division markings on the blank dial. As shown in Fig. 1, the present construction is adapted to provide eight major division lines on the blank dial and four minor divisions intermediate each pair of major division lines.

As previously stated this is for purposes of illustration only.

Inasmuch as the major and minor blades 22 and 23 are interconnected by the resilient elements 35 and 39 and slidably supported on the curved rod 32, an adjustment of any one of the major blades 22 automatically causes the distance between the minor blades 23 on one side thereof to increase in equal proportion and the distance between the minor blades 89 on the opposite side thereof to correspondingly decrease. tips 2 may thus expand or contract the section or groups of secondary blades 23 while maintaining the relative spacing between the blades 23 in each group substantially constant.

In the practical application of the dial- T he adjustment gated slot 68 sufiiciently wide to include between the edges thereof the slots or openings 43 and 53 in the minor and major blades 23 and 22, respectively. The length of the slot 68 is substantially equal to that of the standard scale. The dial-marking device 1 is now positioned on the blank dial 67 in such manner that the openings 13 and 14 in the mounting member 7 register with the openings (not shown) for the dial clamping screws, whereupon the latter screws are caused to clamp the parts just mentioned rigidly in position. Assuming that a 0-70 ampere scale is to be made for the instrument 18, eight major blades 22 are needed. The first major blade to the left of the dial-marking y device 1 is so moved by the adjusting tip 62 as to bring the opening 53 into alignment with the movable needle 69 of the instrument 18. WVhen the adjusting tip 62 is released, further movement thereof is prevented by the interlocking of the serrated surfaces 61 and 65 under the action of the spring 66.

A ten ampere current is next passed through the instrument 18 andthe second adjusting tip 62 is actuated until the instrument needle '69 is visible through the slot Subsequently, the current is increased: by

marking blades 22 is thatshown in. Figsl' and 4. Asa result of the interconnection of the major and minorblades 22 and 23 by the resilient elements 35 and-39'respectively, the relative spacing of the'minormblades 23 in each group is the same at the ends of the marking device 1, where the adjusting tips 62 are spaced relatively close, as in the center where the spacing ofthe adjusting tips 62 is relatively larg I The dial-marking device 1 is nowre-. moved from the instrument 18v and'so mounted on the supporting plate 17 that it may be centered by pins 15, 16 and (Fig. 1), calibration plate 71 having an arcuateslot 72 of such dimensions as to include the slots 43 and 53 in the minorand major division.

blades 23 and 22, respectively, is positioned .interrnediatethe device 1' and the supporting plate 17. A blank dial 73 is also mounted on the supporting plate 17 directly beneath the calibration blades72. The blank dial 73 may now bemarked in accordance with the relative spacing of the slots or openings 43 and 53 on the dial-marking. device 1 by spraying a marking substance, such for example, as ink into said slots. After-the dial 73 has been thus marked, it may bemounted on the instrument 18.

tized coating as a .Whole, only such portions as are directly beneath-the slots 43 and 53are.

To expeditethis marking process, an auxiliary source of light (not shown) may affected.

be mounted in proximity tothe upper side of the dial-marking device 1. y.

A 0-70 ampere scale has been referredjto in theabove description, but should a 0-50.

ampere scale be'desir-ed,then onlysix major blades 22 would be required. The remaining major and minorbladesl22 and 23 maybe rendered ineifectiveby employing a calibration plate having a shorter slot than-the slot 72 previously employed, said shorter-slot being of a length substantially equal to that of the scale of the instrument to be treated.

The modification'shown in Fig. "8 is the complement of the precedingfigures, and. it diflerentiates over, the'same in the removal of the protective strips 21' and the replacement 95 which corresponds to of he aperturedmajor andminor blades 22 and'23 by. solid blades 22a and'23a.

In operation, the adjusting tips 62 are actuated so .astoalign the major blades 22a with the instrument needle 69. Thereafter the dial-marking device '1' is mounted on the calibration plate 71, the 'blank dial 73 and the supportingplate 17, and the device is then sprayed or painted or subjected to light in accordance with the above described 1netheds. The position of the blades 22a and 23 1 on the blank dial 7 3, however, will be rep- 1 esented by blank spaces rather than lines as in the precedingfigures.

' In Figs. 9 to 11, inclusive, is shown an alternative form of expansibl'eand contractable structure '7 5 to thatillustrated in the preceding figures, and the construction therein disclosed involves the useof a plurality'of adjusting tips 76 for independently controlling the position of major openings or slots 77. The adjusting tips 76 coniprise a 'body portion 78 which is slidably mounted in agro'o-ve 79 formed in a curved supporting "strip 81 which corresponds to the strip'59 of 'Fige a. The main body portion 79 is provided with an outwardly projecting portion 82 which is movable in a restricted portion 83 of the groove 7 9. An out- 'er end of the projecting portion 82 is threadedto receive a clamping nut 8a which may be caused to engage a resilient strip 85 on the outer surface of the supporting member 81. Thus when the nut 84 isturned so as to' engage the resilient strip 85, the shoe or body p'ortionj78 is clamped in position.-

"A second supporting-strip 86 is mounted inwardly of the supporting strip 81 and it is provided withawlongitudinal recess 87 for the'reception o'faslidable shoe 88 somewhat similar to the shoe 78.' Each shoe is prov vided with inwardly extending cylindrical projections 89 constituting pintles, aswill I presently appear. "A pair of blades 91 and 92 are'mou nted" between: the supporting strips 81 and 86 with the opposite ends thereofhinged'on adjacent pairs of pintles 89, 89.

The adjacent ends of-theblades 91 and 92 are beveled, as shown in Fig. 9, and are interconnected byflexible strips '93 and 94;. The adjacent ends 'ofthe blades 91 and 92 are also provided with recessesv to forma major slot 7 the major slots of the preceding figures.

The adjacent ends of the sections '91, 92,

. \vhich are hinged on thepintles 89, are'similarly recessedto provide the previously-mentioned slot 77 Y The portion oftheblade or section 91 intermediatethe major. slots 77 andi95 are provided. with, say, four slots 96, whichcorrespond to =th6'SlOtSl3 in the minor blades 23,:and the section :92 issimilarly provided withslots 96. A strip of cloth 97 I is glued or otherwise secured to the sections 91 and 92 so as to prevent the passage of the marking substance through the hinged portions thereof. The construction of the present modification may be otherwise as shown in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive.

When one adjusting tip 76 is moved toward another, the sections 91 and 92 buckle, as illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10. However, the relative spacing of the slots 96 as defined by the projection thereof on the blank dial 73 remains substantially constant, and the same result obtains when the adjusting tip 76 is so moved as to flatten the sections 91 and 92. In operation, the adjusting tips 76 are actuated so as to bring the slots 7 7 successively into alignment with the instrument needle as it assumes the different positions.

When the major slots have been adjusted to the desired positions, the dial-marking device 1 mounted as shown in Fig. 2 for the dial-mar king device 1. Thereafter, the relative positions of the slots 77, and 96 may be transferred to the blank dial 73 by the methods discussed, in connection with the dial-marking device 1. If necessary the dial-marking device 1 may be made of nonmagnetic and high resistance material.

The structure shown in Figs. 9 to 11 is susceptible of modification in much the same manner as previously set forth in connection with Figs. 1 to 7, and Fig. 8. For example, the sections 91 and 92 may comprise an open framework with blades (not shown) positioned thereon in accordance with the relative spacing of the slots 77, 95 and 96. The operation of such construction would be substantially as described in connection with Fig. 8.

While I have shown several formsof embodiment of my invention, for the purpose of describing the same and illustrating its principles of construction and operation, it is apparent that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention. I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be imposed thereon as are indicated in the appended claims or as are demanded by the prior art.

I claim:

1. A dial-marking device, comprising an expansible structure provided with a plurality of radially-extending portions having means therein for the observation of a moV- able member in proximity thereto, common pivotal mounting means for at least some of said portions, and means interconnecting said portions and maintaining relative spacing of the latter independently of the expansion of said structure.

2. A scale-marking device, comprising an expansible structure having a plurality of groups of openings therein, and means whereby the distance between the o enings in each group may be increased whi e maintaining substantially'constant the relative spacing thereof.

3. An expansible structure having a plurality of main openings, means whereby the position of the'said openings may be independently'adjusted, said structure having one or more secondary openings intermediate 21 pair of main openings, and means for maintaining the proportional distances between the openings substantially unchanged when said structure is expanded.

4. A dial-marking device, comprising an expansible structure,said structure including a plurality of members having openings therein, means for guiding said members during an expansion, 9. track arranged adjacent said members, and means operatively associated with the extremities of certain of said members and movable along said track, for positively actuating said members.

5. An expansible and contractable structure includingaplurality of elements having openings, and a track arranged adjacent the extremities of said elements for guiding the same during said expansion and contraction. said elements having co-axially mounted portions.

6. A dial-marking device, comprising an expansible structure including a plurality of radially-extending elements having openings therein for observation of a movable member in proximity thereto, a supporting framework for said structure, means for interconnecting said elements and said framework, whereby the position of said elements in a fixed are may be adjusted, and a member for guiding said elements during said adjustment. I I

7. A dial-marking device, comprising a fan-like expansible structure provided with a. plurality of radially-extending elements each having an opening, means whereby the relative spacing of said elements is independent of an expansion, the said elements being substaniially unobstructed underneath whereby they are adapted to be so positioned that said openings are immediately adjacent to the path of travel of an instrument needle, and means for maintaining said elements in a fixed arc.

8. A fan-like structure, comprising an expansible portion provided with a plurality of radially disposed members having openings, certain of said members being extended radially inwardly, means affording a common pivotal support therefor, supporting means for said radially extending members, and means individual to certain of said radially extending members for independently adjusting the same.

9. A dial-marking device comprising an arcuate expansible and contractable structure having a plurality of radially disposed members having openings, certain of said members being extended inwardly, a member afiording a pivotal mounting therefor, rigidly disposed members extending from said mounting so as to engage the respective ends of said expansible structure, a rod extending between said last-mentioned members and operatively associated With said first-mentioned members, a second supporting member extending between said rigidly disposed members, and a plurality of adjusting knobs slidably mounted on said second supporting member, said knobs being so associated with said radially extending members as to form the same into groups.

10. In a dial-marking device, an elongated arcuate expansible structure, comprising a plurality of radially extending members having openings therein, one end of said members having another opening for the reception of an elastic element, the other end of said members having an additional pair of openings,

of Which one is adapted to receive an elastic element and the other a guiding member.

11. In a device of the class described, a pair of spaced longitudinally extending supporting members, a plurality of pintles slidably mounted in said spaced members, the pintles on said members being disposed in pairs, and a pair of blades having the inner ends thereof flexibly interconnected and the outer ends mounted on a pair of said pintles, said blades having one or more openings.

12. In a dial-marking device, a plurality of resilient members and an elongated ex-' pansib-le structure having a plurality of members extending transversely with respect to said resilient members interconnected by said resilient members, the space intermediate successive members being open.

' TH DE KONING. 

